DRAINAGE LAWS 223 



300. Mutual agreements. In some, if not in all, 

 states the law gives to any group of freeholders, desiring 

 to organize a drainage district, the right to enter into a 

 mutual agreement for the organization of such, and for 

 the laying out of the system and the execution of the work 

 and payment therefore. It is probably true that such 

 an agreement must in all cases become a matter of record, 

 and should be drawn with care, and be specific in the points 

 of agreement. The work of construction in such cases is 

 usually, if not always, required to be done under the same 

 authority as in cases in which petitions are presented and 

 the work carried out in the ordinary way. In the case 

 of mutual agreement, however, time and expense and 

 annoyance are saved. 



301. Unlawful acts ; penalties. Certain acts relating 

 to draining and drainage are unlawful in most states, 

 and are classed as misdemeanors. In Minnesota it is 

 not lawful : 



To willfully or negligently obstruct or injure any work 

 constructed under the provision of certain drainage 

 laws; 



To allow such work to be injured or obstructed by live- 

 stock ; 



To divert water from its proper channel; 



To change location of, or markings on, stakes set and 

 marked by the engineer in charge of any drainage work 

 (unless authorized by said engineer to make such changes) ; 



To dig or construct, or cause to be dug or constructed, 

 drains emptying their water into county or district drains, 

 without having first obtained proper permission to do so. 



To attempt to prevent or interfere with the entrance 

 upon any tract of land by the viewers, county com- 

 missioners, and the engineers to do any act necessary 



